. That good Christian, Basil, has
brought them face to face with you, as he promised me that he would."

As he heard these words Hugh drew his sword and leapt at Basil. But the
rogue was watching. With a yell of fear he threw himself among the crowd
and there vanished.

"Out weapons, and back to back!" cried Hugh, "for we are snared."

So the three of them ranged themselves together facing outward. In front
of them gleamed Grey Dick's axe, Hugh's sword and David's great knife.
In a moment the furious mob was surging round them like the sea,
howling, "Down with the foreign wizards! Kill the friends of the Jews!"
one solid wall of changing white faces.

A man struck at them with a halbert, but the blow fell short, for he was
afraid to come too near. Grey Dick leapt forward, and in a moment was
back again, leaving that man dead, smitten through from skull to chin.
For a while there was silence, since this sudden death gave them pause,
and in it Hugh cried out:

"Are blameless men to be murdered thus? Have we no friends in Avignon?"

"Some," answered a voice from the outer shadow, though who spoke they
could not see.

"Save the protectors of the Jews!" cried the voice again.

Then came a rush and a counter-rush. Fighting began around them in which
they took no share. When it had passed over them like a gust of wind,
David Day was gone, killed or trodden down, as his companions thought.

"Now, master, we are alone," said Grey Dick. "Set your shoulders against
mine and let us die a death that these dogs of Avignon will remember."

"Ay, ay!" answered Hugh. "But don't overreach, Dick, 'tis ever the
archer's fault."

The mob closed in on them, then rolled back like water from a rock,
leaving some behind. Again they closed in and again rolled back.

"Bring bows!" they cried, widening out. "Bring bows and shoot them
down."

"Ah!" gasped Dick, "that is a game two can play, now that I have arm
room."

Almost before the words had left his lips the great black bow he bore
was out and strung. Next instant the shafts began to rush, piercing all
before them, till at the third arrow those in front of him melted away,
save such as would stir no more. Only now missiles began to come in
answer from this side and from that, although as yet none struck them.

"Unstring your bow, Dick, and let us charge," said Hugh. "We have no
other chance save flight. They'll pelt us under."

Dick did not seem to hear. At least he shot on a